Strawberry plant - Crimson King variety

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct improved variety of strawberry plant resulted from crossing the Trumpeter variety (unpatented) with the Red Giant variety (U.S. Pat. No. 2,884). The plant bears a general resemblance to the Red Giant variety, but forms fruit which ripens a week to ten days earlier which is of better flavor and remains of a uniform large size throughout the picking season.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The original plant was selected from a family of seedlings resultingfrom a cross made in 1972 at Monticello (Wright County), Minn. betweenthe Trumpeter variety (unpatented) and the Red Giant variety (U.S. PlantPat. No. 2,884). The Red Giant variety was available commercially fromthe Stark Bro's Nurseries and Orchards Co. under the registeredtrademark "Stark".

As a result of this breeding, I have produced a new and distinctimproved variety of strawberry plant which is distinguished from itsparents, as well as from all other varieties of which I am aware.

The present variety, which has been designated the Crimson King variety,bears a general resemblance to the Red Giant variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 2,884), but forms fruit which ripens a week to 10 days earlier whichis of better flavor and remains of a uniform large size throughout thepicking season. The fruit color of the Crimson King variety issubstantially identical to that of the Red Giant variety (U.S. PlantPat. No. 2,884).

Asexual reproduction of my improved strawberry variety by runners asperformed by me at Monticello, Minn. beginning in 1975 shows that theforegoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form, and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing shows typical specimens of the fruit andfoliage of my new variety, with the fruit specimens shown in variousstages of development, all as depicted in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of thischaracter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new variety'scharacteristics as observed from plants growing at Louisiana, Mo. Colorterminology is in accordance with Nickerson's Color Fan, published byMunsell Color Company, Inc., of Baltimore, Md., except where generalcolor terms are to be accorded their usual dictionary significance.

Dates of first and last pickings during 1977: May 19 and June 1respectively.

Plant:

Growth.--Vigorous.

Root.--Vigorous.

Crown.--Simple; medium size.

Leaves.--Many; large size. Petiole -- medium long and stout; petiole ofcentral leaflet exceeds that of lateral by one-half longer. Color --upper surface -- dark green. Lower surface -- medium light green.Pubescence -- scant. Groove -- shallow. Serrations -- irregular, broadlyovated. Ciliate on margin and having green apex; serrations of bothcentral and lateral leaflets extend over upper 3/4 of margin.

Leaflets.--Upper surface -- dull smooth flat; color dark green. Lowersurface -- medium light green. Pubescence -- scant.

Runners.--Appear during fruiting; numerous; stocky.

Flower stems.--Medium short; inflorescence protected by foliage.

Bloom: Medium early.

Date of first bloom.--April 29.

Date of full bloom.--May 7.

Flowers--Many; perfect. Breadth: Primary -- 11/4 inches. Secondary --filaments of stamens -- short. Pollen -- abundant.

Fruiting stems:

Medium stout.--Upright.

Radical.--Shorter than main truss.

Branches of truss.--Few.

Soil where grown: Loamy; fairly well drained.

Culture: Mulched with straw; sprayed with benomyl fungicide and diazoninsecticide; matted row thinned.

Fruit:

Condition when described.--Prime; May 25.

Size.--Uniform; large; constant throughout season. Average length --11/2 inches. Average breadth -- 15/8 inches. Average thickness -- 13/8inches.

Form.--Uniform; regular; obtuse-conical; apex rounded. Shallow groove onone side of largest specimens.

Stems.--Medium stout; medium long; main truss stout.

Calyx.--Even with surface. Medium free; medium large size; green afterpicking. Upper surface: Color -- medium dark green. Pubescence -- scant.Lower surface: Color -- light green; pubescence -- very scant.

Surface.--Glossy. Color -- vivid carmine red (Strong Red Hue 5R 4/12).

seeds.--Color -- light straw yellow. Markings -- none.

Core.--Most fruits are solid, very few with small hollow area. Color --light pinkish red (Vivid Red, Hue 5R 5/13) surrounded with white. As thefruit reaches full soft maturity, the white gradually turns to vividred.

Flesh.--Juicy. Color -- vivid bright red (Vivid Red, Hue 5R 5/13).

flavor.--Very rich subacid.

Quality.--Best. Shipping Quality -- good.

Use.--Market; dessert.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularlyas to novelty by the unique combination of a general resemblance to theRed Giant variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,884), but forming fruit whichripens a week to 10 days earlier which is of better flavor and remainsof a uniform large size throughout the picking season.